"16 Days" is a song by

alternative country Alternative country (commonly abbreviated to alt-country; also known as alternative country rock, insurgent country, Americana, or y'allternative) is a loosely defined subgenre of country music and/or country rock that includes acts that diffe ...

band

Whiskeytown Whiskeytown was an American alternative country band formed in 1994 from Raleigh, North Carolina. Fronted by Ryan Adams, the group included members Caitlin Cary, Phil Wandscher, Eric "Skillet" Gilmore, and Mike Daly. They disbanded in 2000 ...

and written by

Ryan Adams David Ryan Adams (born November 5, 1974) is an American Rock music, rock and Country music, country singer-songwriter. He has released 30 studio albums and three as a former member of Whiskeytown. In 2000, Adams left Whiskeytown and released ...

. It first appeared on Whiskeytown's ''

Strangers Almanac ''Strangers Almanac'' is the second studio album by American alternative country band Whiskeytown, released on July 29, 1997, on Outpost and Geffen Records. The album was reissued as a deluxe edition with bonus tracks and an additional disc of ...

'' album in 1997, and was released that same year as a

CD single A CD single is a single (music), music single in the form of a compact disc (CD). Originally the ''CD single'' standard (as defined in the Rainbow Books, Red Book) was an 8 cm (3-inch) "mini CD" (''CD3''); later on the term referred to any si ...

. An earlier version of the song – recorded during the band's "Baseball Park" sessions – was released on the 1998 reissue of the band's first album ''

Faithless Street ''Faithless Street'' is the debut studio album by alternative country band Whiskeytown, released in 1995 on Mood Food Records. The album was re-issued by Outpost Recordings in 1998 with several bonus tracks added, and the track "Oklahoma" omit ...

''. And an alternate, acoustic version of the song – also recorded during the "Baseball Park" sessions – was released on the 2008 deluxe edition of ''

''. According to

, the song was released as a single and was getting significant radio airplay until, in a fit of anger, he dared a powerful West Coast radio programmer to take the song off the air. The programmer obliged, and the song soon disappeared from radio playlists.

Cover versions

The song has been covered by

The Clarks The Clarks are an American rock band from the Pittsburgh region, originating at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Over the course of thirty-plus years, they have produced eleven studio albums, two live albums, 2 compilation albums, an EP, and ...

on their album ''

Songs in G ''Songs in G'' is the first EP by the Clarks, released in 2010 The year saw a multitude of natural and environmental disasters such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the 2010 Chile earthquake. The 2009 sw ...

''. The song has also been covered by

Wade Bowen Paul Wade Bowen (born 1977) is an American Texas Country/ Red Dirt singer from Waco, Texas, United States. Bowen was a member of the band West 84 with friend Matt Miller until 2001 when the group became known as Wade Bowen and West 84., AllMusi ...

as a hidden track on his ''Blue Light Live'' album

Track listing

Personnel and production credits

— acoustic & electric guitars, singing, banjo, piano, percussion *

Phil Wandscher Phil Wandscher is the former guitarist of the alt-country band Whiskeytown, and is now a member of Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter. Wandscher appeared on Death Cab For Cutie's album ''Transatlanticism'', singing backing vocals on the album's ...

— electric guitar, singing, organ, percussion *

Caitlin Cary Caitlin Cary (born October 28, 1968) is an alternative country musician and visual artist from Seville, Ohio. Early life Caitlin Cary is the youngest of seven siblings (all older brothers). Her entire family was involved in music to some degree ...

— violin, singing * Steven Terry — drums, singing, percussion * Jeff Rice — bass guitar * Produced, engineered, and mixed by Jim Scott

References

{{authority control Whiskeytown songs 1997 debut singles Songs written by Ryan Adams 1997 songs